Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Workforce

Everyone loves to talk about health. There are mobile apps to monitor food intake, stress levels, and exercise, and whole blogs dedicated to fitness and physical and mental health. It can’t be denied however, that Americans spend most of the week working, not monitoring their well-being. According to Psychology Today, the average American spends 90,000 hours at work during their lifetime. If we scrunched all of those hours together into one, long period of our lives, we’d work for over 10 years straight. As employers, we have a responsibility to provide a work environment that promotes good, healthy habits for the people who dedicate so much of their lives to our businesses. Here are some ways we can do just that.

Mental and emotional health, are too often overlooked. Allow time for meditation and breaks. Jobs can be stressful and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed behind a desk. Your employees should feel like they can get up and go for a walk if they need to, take a few minutes to meditate or even take five minutes to speak with a loved one. It’s also a great idea to provide a platform for employees to share anonymous feedback with upper management. They’ll be able to address concerns without the anxiety that comes along with confronting a superior, and you’ll receive more honest comments.

Engage your employees in fitness-related activities. If you’re not sure how to transition into these kinds of activities, set company goals together – if you meet them by the end of a predetermined period of time, treat everyone to an afternoon of yoga or Zumba. There are also many community sports leagues that your team may be able to participate in. These won’t only promote fitness, but also a sense of unity among your employees. Studies have proven that when people take time to exercise throughout the day, they are far more productive. It’s a win-win situation for all involved.

If your employees can sense that you care for their well-being, their job satisfaction will likely increase as a result. Employees who are healthy take fewer sick days in the long run, and are also more productive and energetic. Implementing healthy company practices isn’t just a kind service, it’s also good business. Do you part in helping your workforce become a healthy one, and you’ll see the benefits of it for years to come.

Share This Article:

About Alvin Loewenberg

Alvin Loewenberg is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Morningside Ministries. He is responsible for the oversight of nine senior care communities providing nursing care, assisted living and independent living, totaling 807 units. Loewenberg has been involved in long-term care administration since 1979. For the past 23 years, he has served as the President/CEO of Morningside Ministries. Loewenberg has held various positions of leadership at both the Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (TAHSA) and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA).